Delayed action towel dispenser



July 28, 1942- H. B. I Ewls T AL 2,291,047

DELAYED ACTION TOWEL DISPENSER Filed Marh 6. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l SAW.5 5a NJ- u July 28, 1942. 4 H. B. Lx-:wls ET Al. 'y 2,291,047

I DELAYEDACTION TOWEL DISPENSER Filed March 19:59 '2 sheets-sheet 2 1-Fzql Patented July 28, 1942 l DELAYED` ACTION TOWEL DISPENSER Howard B.Lewis, Venice, and Bruce Burns, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application March 6, 1939, Serial No. 259,990

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in towel dispensers wherein thedispensing or feed mechanism is automatically rendered inoperative whena given length of a towel is dispensed and must then be manipulated asby moving the operating crank in a particular manner, in order to againbecome operative for dispensing another length of toweling, the purposebeing to render diiicult, if not prevent, such repeated operations aswould cause a wasteful issuance of a greater amount of toweling thanneeded per person.

The present invention resides in the provision of a towel dispenserwherein latch means automatically locks the feeding mechanism againstoperation when a given length of toweling is dispensed, and a time delaylatch releasing means, such as a dy wheel device, automaticallycommences to rotate during or at the expiration of the feeding operationand must rotate for a given period of time before moving to a positionin which a predetermined operation of the crank or operating membercauses said device to release the latch, whereby another movement of thecrank may be effected to bring about another dispensing operation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a compact delayedaction feed means of the character described which may be localized atone point of the cabinet in small compass, and wherein the entiremechanism is comparatively small and compact and takes up approximatelyno more room than that required to house a standard size roll of papertoweling, such a mechanism affording the use of a new type of cabinet orcasing consisting of like shallow receptacle-like halves hingedlyconnected and yso constructed the unit may be made comparatively smalland, therefore, conveniently positioned in closets and other places inwhich towel dispensers of standard size cannot be conveniently placed.

A further object of the invention is to providea towel dispenser of thecharacter described wherein the delayed action mechanism includes aninertia or ily wheel device, and is actuated by a spring means which isplaced under tension during the dispensing operation and becomeseiective at the end of the dispensing operation for rotating said flywheel device to a position for releasing the latch means, the actualrelease of the latch means being effected, however, through a reversemovement ofthe operating handle or crank, this delayed action meansbeing much more simple, reliable in operation and adaptable thandashpot, gravity actuated and other time delay means heretofore used inthe art.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of the character describedwherein'an improved cabinet facilitates the loading of the dispenserwith toweling and eliminates the necessity of threading the towelingthrough a slot or other opening inasmuch as upon closing the cabinet thedispensing members are. automatically brought into engagement with thetoweling ready for issuing the latter upon operation of thefeedmechanism.

We have shown apreferredform of delayed action. towel dispenser in theaccompanying drawings, embodying Vour invention, subjecthowever, tomodification within the scope of the appended claims, without departingfrom the spirit of our invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l represents a front elevation of a dispenser constructed inaccordance with this invention,

Fig. 2` represents a sectional View taken on the plane of line 2-.2 ofFig. 1 and particularly showing the dispensing and time controlmechanism as when the dispensing means is locked and requires a reversemovement of the operating handle to release same,

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are similar fragmentary sectional views takenon the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with portions of the mechanismbroken away and other parts omitted for clarity of illus-- tration, andshowing the dispensing and control mechanism in diiferent positionsassumed sequentially during a given dispensing operation,

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary detail elevation of the dispensing gearand its associated elements,

Fig. 10 represents an edge elevation of said gear and said elements,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the completedispensing and delayed action unit as when assembled, excepting thedispensing rollers,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational View, partly in section, of the ilywheel device,

Fig. 13 is afragmentary front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 12,and

Fig, 14 is a perspective view of the dispenser as when opened inpreparation for mounting a roll of toweling therein.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line Iii-l5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a detail section taken on the plane of line llii6 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 17 is a detail section taken on the plane of line rI l-.ll of Fig.16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary detail section of the wall device forsupporting the paper roll.

One form of the invention as shown in detail in the accompanyingdrawings generally comprises a housing or cabinet A containing a roll Bof paper toweling so that the paper may be extended through a dispensingopening C upon manipulation of a crank handle or like operating member Dfor actuating a combined dispensing and delayed action means E containedin said housing.

In accordance with this invention, and due particularly to the smallnessand compactness of the dispensing and delayed action means, the housingA is comparatively small and consists of shallow shell-like halves orsections I and 2 hinged together as at 3, and having the edges oppositethe hinges, spaced apart to define the dispensing opening C. One of themembers is adapted to be placed against a wall or other support and maybe secured thereto as by any suitable means, not shown.

The means here employed for dispensing toweling from the housingincludes an angular bracket 5 secured to an end wall 6 of the section 2of the housing and rotatably supporting with said end wall, the shaftportion 1 of the crank D. The inner end of this shaft portion is reducedand flattened as at 8 so as to support a driving gear 9, which latter isheld thereon for rotation with r the crank by means of a nut I turned onthe threaded extremity of the portion 8 (see Figs. l1 and 12). This nutis flanged and engages the bracket so as to rotatably secure the crankthereto.

The gear 9 meshes with a pinion I2 (Figs. 2 and 14) fixed to one end ofa dispensing roller I3 suitably journalled in the housing section 2adjacent the dispensing opening C formed when the housing sections areheld together. This roller I3 cooperates with secondary spring loadeddispensing shoe I4 mounted upon the section I of the housing. Thetoweling is extended between said shoe and roller and therefore will befrictionally engaged and moved outward through the dispensing opening C,upon rotation of the roller I3. A serrated tear-olf blade I5 is fixed tothe housing section I so as to extend through the dispensing opening andafford a means for tearing off a measured strip of paper toweling,'aswill be apparent with reference to Figure 2. It is seen that the gearratio of the dispensing means is such that a single turn of theoperating crank will rotate the dispensing roller several times whereby,with each operation, a strip of paper toweling will be issued.

For the purpose of preventing repeated operations such as would causewasteful issuance of more toweling than is needed per person, we employa time delay mechanism which automatically renders the dispensing meansinoperative for a predetermined period of time following a dispensingoperation, and at the expiration of said time, requires a particularmanual operation of the dispensing means, such as a reverse movement ofthe crank handle, before the dispensing means may again be operated.This control means includes a locking dog I6 pivoted as at I1 betweenits ends on the gear 9 and having a spring or tensioning washer I8, orthe like (Fig. 9), mounted upon the pivot I1 for the purpose offrictionally holding the dog I6 in any position to which it is movedduring the operation of the control means. This dog is provided with ahook-shaped end I9 adapted to engage a stop member 20 fixed to thehousing section 2 so that when the dog is in one position, said end willpresent a shoulder 2| thereon in position to engage said stop whereby toprevent movement of the gear as necessary to effect a dispensingoperation, this being a clockwise movement. The movement of the dog I6is controlled by a pin 22 extending laterally from the inner face of acircular fly Wheel 23, which is mounted for free rotation on theshaft 1. 'Ihis ily wheel has one end of a spiral spring 24 xed thereto,as at 2'5, and the other end of the spring is fixed as at 26, to theopposite face of the gear 9. During the dispensing operation, thisspring is wound up, as will be hereinafter explained.

Fixed to the gear 9 is a beveled projection 21 which is adapted toengage a spring detent member 28 xed, as at 29, to the bracket 5. Thisdetent member is adapted to engage projections 30 and 3l on theperiphery of the fly wheel 23 for controlling the movement of thelatter. A slotted ratchet pawl 32 is pivoted, as at 33, upon the bracket5 and operates by reason of its slot and its contact with the teeth ofgear 9 to permit a limited anti-clockwise movement of said gear, asrequired when releasing the latch dog by a reverse movement of thehandle or crank D, as will be hereinafter described.

The roll of paper toweling B is maintained in proper position within thehousing by means of a yieldable supported male bearing member 34 se--cured, as shown in Fig. 14, to the housing section 2 and adapted extendinto the core at one end of` said roll, whereas a cup-shaped trunnionmember-- 35 is carried at the other end of said roll and is.-` rotatablyengaged in a socket 36 formed in theouter face of the bracket 5. Thesections orhalves I and 2 are closed upon the end of the toweling andthereby dispose the roller I3 and shoe I4 upon opposite sides of saidend without requiring the threading of the paper in place. Latch members36 cooperate with keepers 36"" to hold the sections I and 2 closed. Alip 31 on the socket 36 prevents unintentional dislodgment of the member35 from said socket.

In the operation of the dispenser, assuming that itis in position shownin Fig. 2, and a predetermined length of paper toweling has been issued,as shown in said figure, the dog I9 is engaged with the stop 20 and thegear 9 is locked against such movement as necessary to effect adispensing operation. In order to release the latch and render thedispensing mechanism operative, the operator must turn the handle D in areverse direction an extent as indicated by dotted showing thereof inFig. 2. Since the pawl 32 will permit a limited reverse movement of thegear 9 (see Figs. 2 and 3), it is seen that when the handle is moved ina reverse direction, as aforesaid, the dog I6 carried by said gear ismoved away from the stop 20. The dog will move inwardly so that theshoulder 2I thereof will be disposed out of the path of the member 20,as the pin 22 on the y wheel 23 engages the curved surface 38 of thedog. As soon as the Vbeveled projection 21 on the gear 9 moves clear ofthe spring detent 28, as takes place upon the initial reverse movementof gear 9, the detent 28 moves towards the periphery of the fly wheel 23and the projection 3I on said ily wheel encounters said detent 28, asshown in Fig. 3, whereupon the fly wheel and pin 22 are stationarilyheld so that as the gear 9 completes its reverse movement, the curvedface 38 of said dog engaging said pin 22 causes the dog to swinginwardly into position clear of the member 20, as shown in Fig. 3. Theoperator may now turn the handle in clockwise direction to effectrotation of the vgear 9 and the driving of the pinion I2, whereupon theroller I3 and shoe I4 will function to extend a given length of thepaper toweling. y

As shown in Fig. 4, the fly wheel 273 is held against rotation in aclockwise direction with said gear 9, by means of the projection 39encountering the detent 28. Thus, as the gear 9 continues to turn in avclockwise direction during the dispensing operation, the spring 24 isplaced under tension by the movement'of the outer end relative yto theinner end thereof as in the hair spring-of a watch. Near the end of theyrotation of the gear 9, through one revolution, as shown in Fig.'6,thehook end of the dog I6 encounters the pin 22 on the flywheel andsaid-dog is rocked on its pivot I'| so that the shoulder 2| is eX-tended outwardly into a position to engage the member 20, as shown inFig. '7. As the vgear completes one revolution, the beveled projection2'| thereon engages and lifts the detent 23, as shown in Fig. 8, and theshoulder 2| on the dog I6 abuts the member 29. As soon as the detentmember 28 is lifted to the position shown in Fig. 8 and is clear of theprojection 39 on the fly wheel, the latter is released and is thenrotated in a clockwise direction by the spring 24. This movement of thefly wheel commences when the gear 9 is locked by means of the shoulder2| and stop member 29, and during the time of such rotation of the flywheel, the machine is inoperative as to a dispensing operation, due tothe fact that should the operator move-the'handle D in a reversedirection and thereby correspondingly move gear 9, such movement willnot cause the dog I6 to move out of the path of the member 29 inasmuchas said dog must contact the pin 22 on the fiy wheel in order to berocked into a releasing position, and at such time said pin is not inposition to contact the dog. However, as soon as the iiy wheel hascompleted its predetermined rotation and assumes the position shown inFig. 2, with the pin 22 bearing against the curved face 38 of the dogIB, retractive or reverse movement of the gear 9 will cause said dog tobe rocked and the shoulder 2| thereof to be moved out of the path of themember v29 into the position shown in Fig. 3 whereby to release `thedispensing means.

It will now be seen that the delayed action mechanism hereof willautomatically render the dispenser inoperative when a predeterminedlength of toweling has been issued and that the dispenser will remaininoperative until such time that the operator moves the crank D in areverse direction and thereby releases the locking means, ashereinbefore noted. These two delay factors -will discourage, if notprevent, such operation vmatically lock with the keepers 36" onk sectionI Vand the cabinet will be locked inclosed position.

To unlock the cabinet asuitable instrument, not shown, is insertedthrough an opening 42 on the section 2 and engaged with theadiacentmember '36'so that it lmay-bemo'ved-fout of latclfiing position.,thefother member 36' being correspondingly moved, due to being mountedon the shaft 40 which turns when said first-named member is moved out oflatching position. A spring 43 is associated with the two sections I and2 as shown in Fig. 14, so .that it will automatically lraise the sectionI when the latches are released, thus providing ready access to theinterior of the cabinet.

The roller I3 and shoe I4 are especially constructed to insure theproper feeding of the paper and to prevent jamming or clogging of thepaper. As here shown, the roller I3 is provided lwith spaced' rubberrings 44, 45, and l4S, of which the one 44 is centrally disposed. Theshoe I4 is in the form of an arcuate plate 41 having a-centrally offsetportion 48 which extends outwardly from the remainder thereof and isadapted to engage the ring 44, or better, to frictionally hold. thepaper against said 'ring 44. The other portions of the shoe do not forcethe paper intofrictional contact with the rings 45 and 45 and -it isthus seen that the feeding action takes place as between the ring 44 andoffset portion 48 of' the shoe centrally of the edges of the strip ofpaper. However, when the paper is pulled in preparation for tearing offa strip thereof, it comes in contact with the rings 45 and 46 so as toprevent the paper from slipping or sliding sideways and this insures aclean cut along the serrated edge of the tear-off lip I3. Preferably,the plate I4 is provided With a supporting tongue 49 which is looselymounted in a keeper member 50 Xed to the section I ofthe case wherebysaid plate is eXibly or hingedly supported. A suitable leaf spring 5| ismounted between the case and said' plate so as to yieldably urge thelatter into frictional Contact with the roller I3, that is, the ring 44of said roller. Preferably, the plate is so curved that it will hold thepaper in contact with the roller I3 at the widely spaced points S and T,as particularly shown in Fig. 15. This is desirable inasmuch as it notonly insures the proper frictional contact of thepaper with the rollerI3, but also insures the retention of the strip of paper between'theshoe and roller after a retractive movement of the handle has beeneffected and the roller I3 has been reversely rotated. Such reversemovement of the roll I3 will retract the strip of paper lying between itand the shoe I4 but not sufficiently to withdraw the paper past thepoint S where the shoe forces the paper against the ring I4 of theroller. This therefore insures the operativeness of the device at alltimes and inasmuch as the shoe is loosely and resiliently held inplace,it will be permitted -a universal movement and will thereforeaccommodate itself to the paper and rolls so as to insure the properfrictional engagement of the latter with the paper. Another advantage ofthis shoe is that should the paper tend to bunch up or jam, the pressureof the jammed or bunched up portion of the paper will move the yieldableshoe outwardly away from the roller I3 so that the latter will nothavesuiiicient frictional engagement with the paper to continue a feedingoperation. Therefore, upon the initial formation of a jam `or bunchingof paper .between the shoe and roll, the feedingaction of the paper isautomatically stopped.

We claim:

l. A towel dispenser including a cabinet adapted to contain toweling,latch means operating automatically to arrest the issuance of towelingfrotm` the cabinet whena. predeterminedlength of toweling has beenissued, time control means including a ny wheel member adapted to rotatefreely, means for bringing said member to rest after predeterminedrotation, means associated with said member for rendering the latchmeans releasable only when said member is at rest, means automaticallyeffecting a predetermined rotative movement of said fly wheel memberwhen a predetermined length of toweling is' issued, and a combineddispensing and latch releasing means operatively associated with saidtime control means and said latch means and initially operable forreleasing said latch means and subsequently operable for dispensing agiven length of toweling.

2. A towel dispenser including a cabinet adapted to contain toweling,latch means operating automatically to arrest the issuance of towelingfrom the cabinet when a predetermined length of toweling has beenissued, time control means including a fly wheel member adapted torotate freely, means for bringing said member to rest afterpredetermined rotation, means associated with said member for renderingthe latch means releasable only when said member is at rest, meansautomatically effecting a predetermined rotative movement of said iiywheel member when a predetermined length of toweling is issued, and acombined dispensing and latch releasing means operatively associatedwith said time control means and said rlatch means, including a membermanually movable exteriorly of said cabinet for effecting release of thelatch means and f01 Operating said dispensing means to issue a givenlength of toweling.

3. A towel dispenser comprising a cabinet adapted to contain a supply oftoweling, latch means automatically arresting the issuance of towelingwhen a predetermined length thereof has been dispensed, time controlmeans including a fly wheel member adapted to rotate freely, means forbringing said member to rest after predetermined rotation, meansassociated with said member for rendering the latch means releasableonly when said member is at rest, and a combined latch releasing anddispensing means including means automatically effecting a predeterminedrotative movement of said fly wheel member after issuance of apredetermined length of toweling and an operating handle operativelyassociated with said combined means and said latch means and initiallymovable to release said latch means and subsequently movable to operlate the dispensing means to issue a predetermined length of toweling.

4. A towel dispenser including a cabinet adapted to contain a supply oftoweling, stop means automatically arresting the issuance of towelingwhen a predetermined length thereof has been dispensed, a combinedoperating means for dispensing toweling from the cabinet and releasingthe stop means, including a single operating handle movable forreleasing the stop means and for operating the dispensing means, and afly wheel means which is automatically and freely rotated apredetermined extent after a towel issuing operation of said dispensingmeans and which prevents release of the stop means until cessation ofsaid predetermined rotative movement thereof takes place, said fly wheelmeans including means for driving the fly wheel, and means carried bythe fly Wheel for releasing the dispensing means when the operatingmeans is operated in a given direction.

5. A towel dispenser comprising a cabinet adapted to containtoweling,dispensing means for issuing predetermined lengths of towelingfrom said cabinet including a handle manually movable exteriorly of thecabinet, stop means for automatically arresting the issuance of towelingfrom the cabinet when a predetermined length thereof has been dispensed,means operatively associated with and operating upon movement of saidhandle, for controlling and releasing said stop means, including a ywheel member, means for automatically rotating said y wheel freely afterthe issuance of a predetermined length of toweling, and means preventingduring such free rotative movement thereof the release of said stopmeans thru movement of said handle, and operating upon cessation of saidpredetermined rotation thereof, to render said stop means releasablethru said movement of the handle.

6. A towel dispenser comprising a cabinet adapted to contain toweling,dispensing means for issuing predetermined lengths of toweling from saidcabinet including a handle manually movable exteriorly of the cabinet,stop means for automatically arresting the issuance of toweling from thecabinet when a predetermined length thereof has been dispensed, meansoperatively associated with and operating upon movement of said handle,for controlling and releasing said stop means, including a springoperated fly wheel member, automatic means for rotating said fly wheelfreely after the issuance of a predetermined length of toweling andmeans preventing during such free rotative movement thereof the releaseof said stop means thru movement of said handle; and operating uponcessation of said predetermined rotation thereof, to render said stopmeans vreleasable thru said movement of the handle.

7. A towel dispenser comprising a cabinet adapted to contain toweling,dispensing means for issuing toweling from said cabinet, including arotary shaft, a handle for rotating said shaft, a roller forfrictionally engaging and feeding toweling from said cabinet, meanscooperating with said roller for holding toweling in frictonalengagement therewith, a drive gear fixed to said shaft, a driven gearmounted on said roller and meshing with said drive gear, a fly wheelfreely rotatable on said shaft, spaced peripheral projections on saidfly wheel, a spring detent member fixed to said cabinet and normallydisposed for engagement with said projections for limiting the rotativemovement of the fly wheel, a spiral spring fixed at its ends to saiddrive gear and said fly Wheel and arranged to be placed under tensionupon a dispensing rotation of said drive gear while said detent holdsthe fly wheel against rotation, and to rotate the fly wheel when saiddetent is retracted and said drive gear is held against rotation, a stopmember fixed to said cabinet, a dog pivoted on said drive gear formovement into and out of locking engagement with said stop, a dogengaging member on said fly wheel for moving the dog into and out ofposition of engagement with said stop, a pawl pivotally mounted on saidcabinet -and engaging said drive gear for affording a limited movementthereof in a reverse direction, and a member mounted on said drive gearso as to engage and move said spring detent out of y wheel holdingposition and thereby release the fly wheel when said dog is locked withsaid stop following a predetermined dispensing rotation of said drivegear, said dog having a cam surface with which said dog engaging membercontacts upon completion of the rotary movement of said ily wheel andwhich causes said dog to be retracted from stop engaging position whenthe gear is moved reversely to the dispensing rotation thereof, said dogalso having a cam surface with which said dog engaging member contactsfor moving said dog into stop engaging position when said drive gearcompletes a predetermined rotative movement for dispensing toweling.

8. A towel dispenser comprising a cabinet adapted to containtoweling,ldispensing means for issuing toweling from said cabinet,including a rotary shaft, a handle for rotating said shaft, a drive gearxed for rotation with said shaft, means driven by said gear for engagingand issuing toweling from said cabinet, a fly wheel freely rotatable onsaid shaft, a spiral spring fixed at its ends to said gear and said flywheel so as to be placed under tension during a dispensing rotation ofsaid gear while said ily wheel is held against rotation, and to rotatesaid fly wheel upon release of the latter while the gear is held againstrotation, a spring loaded detent means normally holding said ily wheelagainst rotation, detent means for holding said gear against rotation, adetent operating member on said y wheel for moving the detent means forsaid gear out of gear holding position when said fly wheel completes apredetermined rotative movement following its release, a detentoperating member on said gear for moving the spring loaded detent meansout of ily wheel holding position and releasing said y Wheel at the timesaid gear is held by its detent means, the detent operating member onsaid ily wheel being operable to retract the detent for said gear whensaid handle is operated to move said gear in a direction opposite thatrequired for dispensing towelmg.

9. A towel dispenser comprising: a cabinet for supporting a roll oftoweling, a rotatable dispensing means supported in said cabinet, andincluding a manually rotatable member, an automatically rotatable timedelay member, means operative for stopping the movement in a givendirection of said dispensing means at the completion of each operation,means for rotating said time delay member following the completion ofeach operation into position preparatory to releasing the dispensingmeans for a succeeding 2 operation, and cooperating means on saidmanually rotatable member and said time delay member for releasing thedispensing means when said manually rotatable member is reversely moved.

10. A towel dispenser comprising: a cabinet for supporting a roll oftoweling, a rotatable dispensing means supported in said cabinet, andincluding a manually rotatable member, an automatically rotatable timedelay member, means operative for stopping the movement in a givendirection of said dispensing means at the completion of each operation,means for rotating said time delay member following the completion ofeach operation into position preparatory to releasing the dispensingmeans for a succeeding operation, and cooperating means on said manuallyrotatable member and said time delay member for releasing the dispensingmeans when said manually rotatable member is reversely moved, and meansengaging said manually rotatable member for limiting the reversemovement thereof.

l1. A towel dispenser comprising: a cabinet for supporting a roll oftoweling, a rotatable dispensing means supported in said cabinet, andincluding a manually rotatable member, an automatically rotatable timedelay member, means operative for stopping the movement in a givendirection of said dispensing means at the completion of each operation,means for rotating said time relay member following the completion ofeach operation into position preparatory to releasing the dispensingmeans for a succeeding operation, and cooperating means on said manuallyrotatable member and said time delay member for releasing the dispensingmeans when said manually rotatable member is reversely moved, and meansengaging and for limiting the movement of said time delay member.

l2. A towel dispenser Comprising: a cabinet for supporting a roll oftoweling, a rotatable dispensing means supported in said cabinet, andincluding a manually rotatable member, an automatically rotatable timedelay member, means operative for stopping the movement in a givendirection of said dispensing means at the completion of each operation,means for rotating said time delay member following the completion ofeach operation into position preparatory to releasing the dispensingmeans for a succeeding operation,

' and cooperating means on said manually rotatable member and said timedelay member for releasing the dispensing means when said manuallyrotatable member is reversely moved, the movement of said manuallyrotatable member in a dispensing operation serving to render said timedelay rotating means operative for operating the time delay meansfollowing the completion of each dispensing operation.

HOWARD B. LEWIS.

BRUCE BURNS.

